Foldable bed or cradle.



1. A. EBERLE.

FOLDABLE BED 0R CRADLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21.1917.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Jenn a. nennen, or sr. Louis, ivrrssouni.

roLnAeLn een on CRADLE.

Speeicatn of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 21, 1917. Serial No. 182,016.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN A. Ennemi, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful lm rovements in Foldable Beds or Cradles, o which the following is a full, clear, and exactA description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specifica-tion.

My invention relates to improvements in beds or cradles, the main object being to produce a strong, simple and inexpensive childs bed or cradle. llVith this object in view, the invention comprises a few simple parts combined with each other in a particular manner to produce an inexpensive foldable frame, and a simple bed or cot suspended from the upper end of said frame.

Figure I is a side elevation of a cradle constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. Il is an end view.

Fig, lll is a fragmentary plan view.

Fig. lV is an enlarged vertical section showing one of the pivotal connections at the upper portion of the frame.

The frame herein shown comprises two side frame members, made exactly alihe, and each consisting of a longitudinal connecting member 1, downturned loops 2 at the ends of said connecting member forming feet for the bed, and inclined 3 eX- tending upwardly fromA said loops. r.The connecting member' 1, the loops 2 and the legs 3 of each side frame are integrally conneeted together, all of said parts being preferably formed by bending a plain., flat metal bar. Curved braces 4 extend downwardly from the leO's 3 of each frame to the longitudinal connecting member 1. rli`hese braces are riveted to the members 1 and 3, and their inner ends are preferably turned upwardly, as shown at 4 in Fig. l, for the purpose of adding an ornamental finish to the frame. The upturned ends 41 perform no mechanical function.

Toggle links 5 and 6 cooperate with the inclined legs 3 to form Iii-shaped frames at the ends of the structure. 7 designates pivot pins whereby the legs 3 are connected at the upper ends of the lli-shaped frames.

The toggle links 5 and 6 serve as means for locking the frame structure in the unfolded or extended condition shown in the drawings. These links are pivoted to the legs 3 as shown most clearly in Fig. ll, the linlr 6 being provided with an extension 6 provided with a projecting pin 8, which engages the linlr 5 to limit the downward movement of the toggle. "When the parts Patented ltiay mhilwid. i

occupy the position shown in Fig. lll the i anis of the middle toggle pivot is slightly below the dead center, and a further downn ward movement is preventediby the pin 8 which then engages the link 5. The frame structure can be readily folded by breaking the toggles and moving the legs 3 toward. each other about the axis of pivots 7. Each pivot 7 passes through washers 9 and 10 (Fig. lV) and it is enlarged at its inner end to form a shoulder 11 which engages the washer 10. The legs 3 and the washers 9 and 10 are thus permanently connected by the pivot pin, and the enlarged portion of said pin constitutes a pivotal support for the bed or cot, as will be presently described.

rlhe bed or cot preferably consists. of a sheet of fabric forming a soft, flexible body portion 12 and a continuous metal frame or band 13 to which the top margins of the fabric are secured. rlhe ends of this metal frame or band 13 are perforated to receive the enlarged inner ends of the pivots 7, as shown most clearly in Fig. lV. The frame or band 13 is springable or yieldable, and its ends may be sprung or forced toward each other to disconnect the bed from the pivots.

lt will be observed that the frame herein sho-wn is a substantial and inexpensive structure. lt can be firmly locked in its extended condition by the toggles. rlhe bed itself constitute a comfortable crib or cradie, and it can be very easily applied to and removed from the pivots 7 which connect the two main 'members of the frame by springing the ends toward each other as the bed is lifted to or from the frame.

l claim:

1. A cradle comprising a supporting frame having a pair of inclined legs at each end, the legs of each pair being pivotally connected together at their upper end s, links connecting the legs of each pair, longitudinal members connecting the legs of one pair to the legs of the other pair, curved stiffening braces extending diagonally from the legs to the longitudinalmembers and secured thereto to provide a rigid frame longitudinally, the pivots at the upper ends of said legs being extended toward each other,

and a bed having a top marginal frame sprung onto the extended portions of said pivots.

2. A cradle comprising aV supporting frame having a pair of inclined legs at each end,the legsof each pair being pivotal'ly Connected together at their upper ends, Alinks connecting the legs of each pair, longitudinal members connecting the legs of one pair .to the `legs of the other pair, :the pivots at the upper ends of said legs being extend edwtovvard ieach other, and a bed supported on the extended portions of said pivots, said bed being provided with a yieldable ,top marginal trame adapted to receive said .extended portions of the pivots, and the .end members of said top marginal frame being movable toward eaeh other to vdiseonneev `the bed 4from the pivots.

3. A foldable bed comprising a pair of: side frames each of which includes a longi- -tudina-l connecting member, downturned loops `at the ends of said connecting member forming feet for the bed and inclined legs extending upwardly from said loops, the longitudinal connecting member, loops and legs oeaeh-side frame being integrally connected together, braces extending downwardly from the legs ,of each frame to .the longitudinal connecting member, ,toggles cooperating W-ith Ysaid inclined legs to form A- shaped end frames, pivots whereby the legs are connected .at the upper ends .of the A- shaped frames, rand a ,bed suspended from said pivots.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto aliigx my signature.

JOHN A. EBERLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, b y addressing the Commissioner Lof Patents, Washington, 11. C. 

